Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Regensburg Photos




Photos from my trip to Regensburg
How's That Saying Go, Again?


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The question is, which rat is next?

Monday, August 20, 2007


Music: Norah Jones


Norah Jones was in the Dorf tonight, and she was damn fine. M Ward (opening acts apparently pay by the letter on the marquee) did his own soulful one-man guitar show to get the crowd ready (for a few dozen cigarettes in the 15 minute break).

She came on to open with "Sunrise", starting on the guitar, before moving to the piano, the electric keyboard, the mandolin, then alternating between them for the rest of the set. She either did an excellent job of acting/being touched by the enthusiastic (damn near riotous, by German standards) crowd. She played all her hits and some I didn't know (which isn't surprising, since i don't have her newest CD). For me, the highlight was a song that made me think, "Hot damn, it's the Soggy Bottom Boys!" Sounding like a song straight off the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack, "My First Lover" was a great surprise.

I'd recommend you to catch her, but we were the last show in Germany, as well as "the best audience on the European tour. And I know that sounds like I'm sucking up, but I'm not." When she said it with her sweet, sincere drawl, I had to believe her.

Monday, August 13, 2007

Gäubodenvolksfest & Bavaria, Part I


Lots of pictures to come from a drizzly weekend of medieval towns, lederhosen, beer and bratwurst. LOTS of bratwurst. But first, even the dogs had dirndls on:


But fortunately the more attractive residents were also wearing them -- much to Scott's delight -- he's the guy with the blissful expression in lederhosen:



Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Eating Paris 2: Au Rocher de Cancale



It was recommended by Let's Go and Lonely Planet, and if one dish is any judge, they were right on. I had the breast of duck (rare!) with a mango pepper sauce over the best chips of my life. The thin ones were like God's own potato chip when hot and the thick ones were damn fine sauteed potatoes. And the duck? Juicy, flavorful, not too fatty, and ohhhh so tasty. These french -- they know how to eat.

And I forgot! All the restaurants & cafes were cool with giving free tap water! Hooray!
Paris: Musee d'Orsay







One of the world's great museums, and, arguably, the world's greatest collection of impressionist art, I finally made it on my third trip to paris. Enjoy lots of pics after the link to shutterfly -- http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8AZs3Ddi0btHgA!

Monday, August 06, 2007

The Louvre at Night
I managed to take more than 200 photos in less than 48 hours -- what can I say? I didn't have my travel partners there to distract me from filling up my memory cards. I didn't have many photos of the city at night from last summer, so I tried to make up for it. I won't post all of them on the blog, only a few.






That IM Pei does some nice work, I have to admit.
Mmmmm... Paris


I'm going to blatantly steal an idea from Steve (and, really, every other blogger) and talk about food. Everyone knows I love to eat good food, and I indulged that love in Paris over the weekend. Some might say overindulged, but i was able to walk after each meal. barely.

First up, Friday dinner at Chez Michel: I had the prix fixe menu, which was a bit of a mystery due to my non-existent french. Here's what I THINK I had:


Pre-Appetizer & drinks: A great, dark local brew and some snails with mustard on the side. These were very different from the escargot I'd had -- not much flavor. But the beer and wine (later) were great.




Appetizer: This was the big mystery. I think it was pigeon breast stuffed with foie gras, sausage & other meats. There were chantrelles on the side (in the jar) in some sort of vinegar marinade that tickled the tongue nicely. Very tasty all around, though very heavy for an appetizer.




Main Course: Some sort of white fish with a tomato-red & gold bell pepper sauce and an olive puree on top. Really, really tasty.




Dessert: The coup de grace -- an apricot tart with basil sorbet. Yo yo ma! This was pretty amazing. the pastry was perfect, and the basil sorbet was perfect with the tart -- not too sweet, but soooooo good.